Matt Forir, Director of Missouri Institute of Natural Science, and President of the Board of Directors

Matt has had a love for fossils since the age of four, when he collected his first fossils which are currently on display at the Institute.  From there he began a lifelong quest to build his own museum that would house fossils & minerals from around the world as well as being at the forefront of scientific research.  Matt has collected fossils on two continents and been a part of numerous digs, ranging from dinosaurs to humans as a forensic osteologist, the study of human bones. 

Matt is also a Professor of Speleology for Drury University as well as the Geologist for Greene County Missouri

 Nicole Forir, Projects Director and Member of the Board of Directors

Nicole’s love of all things natural history led to her position as Projects Director with the Institute in 2005.   Since then she has been planning the logistics of every project and expedition the Institute has conducted since October of 2005. Her first expedition was to recover the 53ft Basilosaur whale in Mississippi in December of 05. She followed this up by a series of dinosaur and ammonite digs to South Dakota. Recently Nicole has started the monthly digs in Riverbluff Cave as well as the Institute’s dig in Talking Rocks Cavern. 

Today you can find Nicole planning the next five years of fossil expeditions for the Institute as well as conducting lectures and field trips.

Rob Curran, Legal Counsel

After having Matt Forir help him with a fossil collecting expedition with his children, Rob liked the idea of a museum so much he asked if he could be a part of it.  He has been the Institutes legal counsel since 2004 and has joined us on many expeditions from Mississippi to South Dakota.  He continues to help guide the Institute to its fullest potential, and continues to offer his help with the digs.

Barb Houser, Treasurer on the Board of Directors

Barb has been with the Institute since the beginning of its conception in 2003.  She has served in the capacity of both a trusted board member and the Institutes accountant.  Over the years Barb and her family have helped in all areas, including digs, and public outreach.

Richard Anderson, Technology Advisor and member of the Board of Directors

Richard began his work with the Institute in 2006 when he led the project to install fiber optics inside Riverbluff Cave, making it the first cave in the world to have fiber optics.  He has since become a board member and continues to advise us with our technology needs.